For the second year in a row, AT&T is presenting the Buffalo Unconference. What makes this collaborative gathering of innovative thinkers and dreamers so unique is the social empowerment angle that is infused into the programming.
Participants are prompted to partake in presentations, demos, and open discussions, all of which circle around topics such as technology, entrepreneurship, programming, art, music, volunteerism, writing, or virtually any creative subject. People can present their ideas about how to affect social change in the community, or the world, through technology and creative passions.
Getting involved with the Unconference is easy. Presenters are able to submit their ideas when they sign up. From there, organizers compile tracks of speakers who will be presenting their ideas. Attendees to the conference then sign up to listen to the tracks that they find of interest. The event is a low pressure, engaging, thoughtful way to get ideas presented to those that are interested in hearing about them.
After last year’s initial success, a larger venue was chosen for the 2016 event – VCAMP Health Accelerator. Aside from added space, VCAMP also offers enhanced technology tools for presenters. Seeing that the event takes place in just a few days, a number of presenters have already submitted their topics, which include:
Taking Creative Risks by four time Emmy winner for news producing, Pat Obermeier, Encrypted Amazon Cloud Storage, Hidden Keys to High Performance for your Business, Emotional Design, Making a Video Game in 48 hours, and How to start a $295k Successful Crowdfunding Campaign by ThimbleIO.
Anyone interested in hearing about any of those topics is welcome to register to attend (for free). AT&T is the title supporter. Co-sponsors include Infotech Niagara, VCAMP, 19 IDEAS, Startup Grind Buffalo, Startup Weekend Buffalo, Select One Search, Launch NY, ThimbleIO, Algonquin, and Heads Up Display, Inc.
“AT&T is proud to power Buffalo Unconference because it provides a unique forum for local innovative thinkers to share their creative, entrepreneurial and technological ideas with the community in a collaborative environment,” said Marissa Shorenstein, New York president, AT&T. “Our continued support for this event grows out of our commitment to foster local innovation by providing opportunities for entrepreneurs, technologists, makers and developers to create new technologies and act on ideas that could positively impact their communities and strengthen Western New York’s innovation economy.”
Innovation happens when you bring people together from different backgrounds, with different experiences, and encourage conversations about the concepts they care about.
“Innovation happens when you bring people together from different backgrounds, with different experiences, and encourage conversations about the concepts they care about.” said Event Organizer Clark Dever. “Buffalo Unconference is designed to support entrepreneurship by creating a critical density of people, causing the collision of ideas.”
Buffalo Unconference is scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 2016 from 10am to 4pm at the VCAMP Health Accelerator, 403 Main Street, Suite 200, downtown Buffalo. The conference is free to the public but all attendees must register at buffalounconference.com.